Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago can be traced back to a free art school and gallery founded in 1866. Today, the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago encompasses more than 5,000 years of human expression from cultures around the world and contains more than 260,000 works of art. The museum holds works of art ranging from early Japanese prints to modern American art. It is principally known for one of the United States’ finest collection of paintings produced in Western culture. In 2009, the Art Institute opened the Modern Wing, making it the second-largest museum in the U.S.